Fire-shield



G. PARKER.

(No Model.)

PRE SHIELD.

No. 461,983. Patented Oct. 27, 1891,

A112 vat im? QMQMWM.

Y @gmx UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EORGE PARKER, OF BAY CITY, MlCl-IIGAN.

FIRE-SHIELD.

l SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,983, datedOctober 27', 1891.`

Application iled November 2S, 1890 Serial No. 372,769. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE PARKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bay City,

in the county of Bay and State of Michigan,

have invented cer-tain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Shields; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others ski ed in the art to which itappertains to makea d use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention pertains to devices for preventing the spreading of liresor coniiagrations, and is more especially adapted for use in savingpiles of lumber from taking fire from burning lumber or buildingsadjacent, although it is also adapted to prevent the communication oftire from a burning building to those adjacent.

The invention consists in a sheet of fireproof or incombustible materialprovided on its side surfaces with a pliable metal covering secured tothe sheet at intervals and having secured to its lower edge a metallicwater-pipe provided on its upper side at intervals throughout its lengthwith a series of holes or openings.

The invention also consists in the combination, arrangement, andconstruction ofthe parts, as I shall hereinafter fully explain, andspecifically point out in theY claims of this specification.

Oneof the objects of this invention is to provide a means of preventingthe spreading of fire frolnaburning building orlumber-pile or othercombustible matter to the adjoining property.

Another object of `this invention is to provide a pliable fire-screensheet for use in the protection of property adjacent to a large fire,which can be quickly and easily formed into a portable package adaptedto be easily carried or transported to a fire and easily nianipulatedand put in place.

Another object is to provide a fire-screen to be interposed between aburning pile of lumber or a building and adjacent lumber or buildingswith a means of being continually showered with water when exposed to aheat so great as to prevent the approach of hosemen.

I attain these objects by means of the devices illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side View, in elevationand partly sectional, of my improved lire-screen extended for use.Fig.2is a vertical section of the same as applied to a pile of lumber.Fig. 3 is a side view of the screen rolled up for transportation. Fig. 4is an end view of the same.

ct represents a sheet of fire-proof or incombustible material, asasbestus or similar material, and b are sheets of wire-netting,` of anyconvenient construction, spread over the side surfaces of the sheet aand secured thereto in any convenient manner, mas herein shown, by aseries of hooks or wires c passed through the sheet and around the wiresof the netting on opposite sides of the sheet, the loops being placed atsuch intervals as to tirmlyhold the parts together. The upper edges ofthe sheet and netting are secured togetherin any oonvenientmanner, oneform of fastening being a strip d, of metal, bent over on each side ofthe screen and secured in place by eyelets e, through Which are securedhandles f, of Wirerope, with which to manipulate and secure the screenin position by ropes g. Upon the lower edge of the screen is secured apipe h, of any convenient size, bands t', of metal, bent 'around thepipe and with their ends riveted to the screen on opposite sidesthereof, being a preferable mode of attaching the pipe. The ends of thepipe are provided with suitable devices j for attaching a hose from ahydrant thereto, and each end is also provided with a suitable plug` orstopper 7c for closing one end of the pipe when the hose is attached tothe opposite end. A t intervals along the upper side of the pipe andnear one side of the screen is arranged a series of small openings l',through Which Water under pressure may spray upon the side ot' thescreen.

The screen is usually handled when in the rolled form shown in Figs. 3and et and is then easily stored or loaded into a vehicle fortransportation to a iire. For use in saving piles of lumber the screenis lifted to the top of the pile and held by the loops f, while the ICOscreen is allowed to unroll on the side of the pile adjacent to theire,which brings the pipe h in a convenient position for the firemen toattach a hose to one end,from which they remove the plug, while otherssecure the screen in place by carrying ropes or lines g across the pileand securing them to the opposite side. The water is then ejected fromthe pipe through the openings Z upon the outside surface of the screen,and no further attention need be given to the screen,as theincombustiblesheet prevents all action of the heat from affecting the lumberpilebehind, and the spray of the water along the sheet prevents injury tothe wire-netting by the intense heat, and the pipe thus arranged willcontinue to operate t0 spray the screen,even should the heat become sogreat as to preclude the near approach of the firemen.

It is well known that lumber is usually piled open, with cross-boardsbetween the layers, so as to facilitate its seasoning and drying, and itis also well known that firemen experience great difliculy inextinguishing lires in burning lumber-piles on account of the heat anddames forminga draft through the spaces between the openly-piled lumberand also because usually the heat from a burning pile is so great as topreclude the use of. water from a hose with efficiency within thelimited spaces between the lum ber-piles. 'By the use of my improvedscreen all contact of the lire to the lumber-pile is shut off, and thescreen being close and without openings all draft to the iire isprevented. The radiation of heat from the burning pile is also shut off,and thus the adjoining pile may easily be kept thoroughly wet by thehosemen, so as to `entirely prevent its ignition.

I prefer to use asbestus as a fire-proof material for the incombustiblesheet,.as this material has the capacity of resisting the action of theheat and is incombustible to a sufficient degree for the purpose. Italso is a non-conductor of heat, so that it forms a sure protectionagainst the radiation or conduction of heat through` the screen to asuffi-A cient intensity to ignite the object behind; but any othersubstance having a capability of resisting the action and passage ofheat can be used instead of the asbestus, if desired. For use to save abuilding adjoining a tire the screen is used in a similar manner, beinglet down between the building and the fire, and several sheets may beused, if necessary to completely cover the side and roof adjacent.

Of course I do notI conline the construction ofmy invention to the useof any particular form of wire-netting, as the principal object of thenetting is to afford protection to the incombustible sheet againstwearing and tearing and also permit the screen to be rolled up forstorage or transportation. Neither do I confine my invention to anyparticular means for securing the parts together, as any well-knownmeans may be used vfor securing the netting to the sheet or the pipe tothe screen.

The screen is preferably of a suitable size to be easily handled andtransported, and, if required, several screens of a suitable size may beused by letting the adjacent edges of the screens overlap each other.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. A fire-screen composed of a sheet of asbestus or other incombustiblematerial, having the area of its opposite sides covered with pliablewire-netting secured in position by a series of wire loops passedthrough the sheet and with their opposite ends looped around the wiresof the netting on opposite j sides of the sheet, provided on its upperedge with a strip of metal clasped on opposite sides of the screen, andprovided with a series of eyelets and the wire-rope handles passedthrough the eyelets, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a' fire-screen, of a sheet of fire-proof materialhaving the surfaces of its opposite sides covered with wirenettingsecured in position by a series of wire loops passed through the sheetand with their ends caught over the wires of the netting and provided onits upper edge With handles, a pipe for Water secured longitudinallj'1to the lower edge of the screen Iand provided with a series of openingsthroughout its length on the side adjacent to the edge of the screen,and means for stopping either end of the pipe, substantially as setforth.

The combination, in a fire-screen, with a sheet of tire-proof materialhaving its surfaces provided with acovering of pliable wire screen ornetting secured to the sheet at intervals by wire loops, a water-pipealong one edge of the screen and provided throughoutits length with aseries of openingsA on the side adjacent to the screen, a series ofbands or loops around the pipe and with their end portions projecting oneach side of and attached to the screen, a plug for stopping either endof the pipe, and means, as a Wire rope or chain, attached to theopposite edge of the screen, for securing the screen in a pendentposition, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE PARKER. litnessesz G. P. THoMAs, J As. E. THOMAS.

IIO

